Goa government withdraws border checks to test fish for formalin

NP NEWS NETWORK

Goa

Goa government has withdrawn the regular checks on the fish imported in the State at the border posts, and instead would hold periodical inspections in the market.

State government had introduced the checks on the borders suspecting that the fish that is being imported from outside region was laced with formalin, a carcinogenic preservative.

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“Henceforth, random testing will be done regularly at fish markets, restaurants and other places on working days, as well as surprise checks would be held at  borders periodically,” State Food and Drugs Administration Minister Vishwajit Rane told reporters today.

He said that the regular checks from the border posts, which were introduced since mid-August, have been withdrawn. The FDA was posting its officials at the check posts to conduct tests on each of the fish carrying vehicle entering the State.

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Rane said that the rapid detection test kit, which is developed by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) at Kochi in association with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has been used to check the samples.

“The test which we are conducting is validated and approved by FSSAI.  To our knowledge, it is the only validated rapid detection kit available in India, which is approved by FSSAI. This test detects only added formaldehyde content in the fish,” he added.

The minister said that CIFT has also developed a rapid detection kit for ammonia in fish, which has been used on more than five hundred samples and all have passed the tests.

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Goa had witnessed fear over use of formalin on fish imported from outside the State during July month following which State government had banned the imports.

The ban was lifted in the first week of August with the condition that FDA would regularly check the fish which is being imported.

State’s main opposition party, Congress, had stalled monsoon session of the Assembly for three days on the issue.